Global Scans · Good Health and Well-being · Weekly Summary

In September 2015, 193 world leaders agreed to 17 Global Goals for Sustainable Development. If these Goals are completed, it would mean an end to extreme poverty, inequality and climate change by 2030.
Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.

• [New] A report from Jobs and Skills Australia finds generative AI will heavily automate routine clerical jobs-while enhancing high-skilled roles in fields like healthcare, engineering, and education. TechNow
• [New] AI is seen as a tool that could significantly improve the quality of service delivery, both by enhancing midwifery education and by reducing errors in midwifery, confirming the viewpoint of the OECD on the improvement of healthcare provision due to AI. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] The OECD supports that automatization will free up valuable time for health professionals to focus on important issues for patient care. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] By 2025, tokenization will enable researchers to access anonymized medical datasets, and patients will earn tokens while blockchain-based health insurance settlements will also occur. Coinmonks
• [New] WHO projects a global shortage of 10 million healthcare workers by 2030. Medical Journal IMJ Health
• [New] Climate-related health risks could push 100 million people into poverty by 2030 (World Bank). Medical Journal IMJ Health
• [New] In California's Central Valley, nitrate levels have exceeded public health thresholds in numerous small water systems, placing communities at risk of long-term exposure. Envirogen
• [New] As public awareness of health impacts increases, the trend towards harm reduction and tobacco cessation is expected to influence e-cigarette regulation in 2025. manolisplace.com
• [New] In 2025, we can expect more focus on regulating high-tech features, such as Bluetooth-enabled devices and personalized vaping apps, to address emerging health concerns and data privacy issues. manolisplace.com
• [New] Although Congress authorized a one-time $50 billion block grant to support hospitals, uncertainty about how funds will be allocated and the five-year limit raise fears that rural healthcare systems may face a funding cliff and long-term instability. RuralOrganizing
• [New] Montana residents in rural areas may see health insurance premiums rise by around 90%, and enrolment could drop by up to 50%, pushing many into the ranks of the uninsured. RuralOrganizing
• [New] Deep cuts to federal Medicaid funding threaten the survival of rural hospitals in Missouri, putting communities with already limited healthcare access at greater risk. RuralOrganizing
• [New] New federal work requirements for Medicaid will force states like Montana to increase documentation and verification, creating a higher administrative burden on rural residents and local health services. RuralOrganizing
• [New] New work requirements set to begin in 2027, along with tighter restrictions on provider taxes and state-directed payments, threaten to further reduce rural healthcare revenues and could force service reductions or closures in remote communities. RuralOrganizing
• [New] Mental health services in rural Montana may suffer first from funding reductions, and local leaders and community members are grappling with uncertainty about how deeply the new Medicaid changes will affect care access. RuralOrganizing
• [New] Ultra-sensitive test could transform global healthcare. ScienceDaily
• [New] With continued advancements, AI could well become the backbone of a truly global healthcare system. Express healthcare
• [New] By 2030, roughly 92 million jobs across the world could be displaced, with bank tellers and data entry clerks being some of the most vulnerable to automation. Moneywise
• [New] Lebanon's decision to set a timeline for Hezbollah disarming was mainly motivated by the risk of another devastating war with Israel and of losing well-needed funds to rebuild its war-devastated regions. Space War
• [New] Simultaneously, Trump has slashed USAID funding, provoking 30,000 job losses in Kenya and threatening critical health services, including HIV treatment for 1.4 million Kenyans. World Socialist Web Site
• [New] As the UK accelerates its shift toward a prevention-focused healthcare model, health tech will play a pivotal role in enhancing public health initiatives such as breast screening. Webex CPaaS Solutions
• [New] Without systemic resilience, there will be a total collapse of the health system, just as is currently happening in Gaza where available hospitals cannot operate at full capacity. World Health Organization - Regional Office for the Eas

Last updated: 24 August 2025